User authentication for a user device can leverage one or more fingerprint sensor regions capable of detecting and/or recognizing a user's fingerprints. The user can define a fingerprint gesture or sequence of fingerprint gestures as a passcode, with access to a protected function being conditional on the user performing the defined fingerprint gesture or sequence of fingerprint gestures. Different fingerprint gestures or fingerprint gesture sequences can invoke or authorize different functions of the device. Fingerprint gestures from two or more users in the same location or in different locations can be used to unlock a protected function of a device.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A device comprising: a fingerprint sensor region; a camera; and one or more processors configured to: detect a first fingerprint gesture via the fingerprint sensor region, the first fingerprint gesture including a touch by at least one finger on the fingerprint sensor region; detect a second fingerprint gesture via the fingerprint sensor region, the second fingerprint gesture including a touch by at least one finger on the fingerprint sensor region; capture a digital image via the camera; and authorize an access to a function of the device based at least on all of: a fingerprint associated with the first fingerprint gesture detected, a fingerprint associated with the second fingerprint gesture detected, and the digital image captured.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine facial features in the digital image captured; and authorize the access to the function of the device based additionally at least on the facial features determined.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to authorize the access to the function of the device based additionally on at least matching the fingerprint associated with the first fingerprint gesture detected to a previously registered fingerprint and matching the fingerprint associated with the second fingerprint gesture detected to a previously registered fingerprint.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to activate the camera of the device to begin capturing the digital image in response to detecting the first fingerprint gesture via the fingerprint sensor region.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: perform facial-feature recognition on the digital image captured; and determine whether facial features recognized in the digital image captured match previously registered facial-features of a user associated with the fingerprint associated with the first fingerprint gesture detected.
6. A method comprising: detecting a fingerprint via a first fingerprint sensor region; detecting a fingerprint via a second fingerprint sensor region that is not the first fingerprint sensor region; obtaining a digital image via a camera; authorizing an access to a function of a device based at least on all of: the fingerprint detected via the first fingerprint sensor region, the fingerprint detected via the second fingerprint sensor region, and the digital image obtained; and wherein the method is performing by the device, the device having the first fingerprint sensor region, the second fingerprint sensor region and including the camera.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: determining facial features in the digital image obtained; and authorizing the access to the function of the device based additionally at least on the facial features determined.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising authorizing the access to the function of the device based additionally on at least matching the fingerprint detected via the first fingerprint sensor region to a previously registered fingerprint and matching the fingerprint detected via the second fingerprint sensor region.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising activating the camera of the device to begin capturing the digital image based at least on the detecting the fingerprint via the first fingerprint sensor region.
10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: performing facial-feature recognition on the digital image obtained; and determining whether facial features recognized in the digital image captured match previously registered facial-features of a user associated with the fingerprint detected via the first fingerprint sensor region.
11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: measuring a facial pulse based on a set of digital images captured via the camera, the set of digital images captured including the digital image captured; measuring a finger pulse via the first fingerprint sensor region; and authorizing the access to the function of the device based additionally at least on both the facial pulse and the finger pulse measured.
12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first fingerprint sensor region is incorporated into a control button of the device.
13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first fingerprint sensor region is incorporated into a touch screen display of the device.
A method for integrating a fingerprint sensor into a touch screen display of an electronic device addresses the challenge of providing secure biometric authentication while maintaining a seamless user interface. The method involves embedding a first fingerprint sensor region within the touch screen display, allowing users to authenticate by placing a finger on the display surface. This eliminates the need for a separate physical fingerprint sensor, reducing device complexity and improving aesthetics. The touch screen display may include additional sensor regions for enhanced functionality, such as multi-point authentication or gesture recognition. The method ensures that the fingerprint sensor operates reliably within the display, maintaining accuracy and responsiveness. By integrating the sensor into the display, the device achieves a more compact and modern design while preserving security features. This approach is particularly useful in smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices where space optimization and user experience are critical. The method may also include calibration techniques to adapt the sensor to varying environmental conditions, ensuring consistent performance. Overall, the invention provides a streamlined solution for biometric authentication in touch screen devices.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the detecting the fingerprint via the first fingerprint sensor region is performed in response to an actuation of a control button of the device, the first fingerprint sensor region incorporated into the control button of the device.
15. The method of claim 6 , wherein the detecting the fingerprint via the first fingerprint sensor region is performed in response to a touch by at least one finger on the first fingerprint sensor region of the device.
16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a device having a fingerprint sensor region, the device including or being operatively coupled to a camera, the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors of the device, cause the device to perform: detecting a first fingerprint gesture via the fingerprint sensor region, the first fingerprint gesture including a touch by at least one finger on the fingerprint sensor region; detecting a second fingerprint gesture via the fingerprint sensor region, the second fingerprint gesture including a touch by at least one finger on the fingerprint sensor region; capturing a digital image via the camera; and authorizing an access to a function of the device based at least on all of: the first fingerprint gesture detected, the second fingerprint gesture detected, and the digital image captured.
17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors of the device, further cause the device to perform: activating the camera to begin capturing the digital image in response to detecting the second fingerprint gesture via the fingerprint sensor region.
18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors of the device, further cause the device to perform: recognizing facial-features in the digital image captured; and determining whether the facial-features recognized in the digital image captured match previously registered facial-features of a user associated with a fingerprint associated with the first fingerprint gesture detected.
19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors of the device, further cause the device to perform: authorizing the access to the function of the device based additionally on at least matching a fingerprint associated with the first fingerprint gesture detected to a previously registered fingerprint and matching a fingerprint associated with the second fingerprint gesture detected to a previously registered fingerprint.
20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors of the device, further cause the device to perform: activating the camera to begin capturing the digital image in response to detecting the first fingerprint gesture via the fingerprint sensor region.
A system for secure device activation using biometric authentication involves a computing device with a fingerprint sensor and a camera. The device includes one or more processors and non-transitory computer-readable media storing programs executed by the processors. The system detects a first fingerprint gesture via a fingerprint sensor region, which triggers the activation of the camera to begin capturing a digital image. The fingerprint sensor region is configured to detect biometric input, such as a fingerprint, to authenticate a user. The camera activation is directly responsive to the detected fingerprint gesture, ensuring that image capture is initiated only after successful biometric verification. This method enhances security by linking camera functionality to authenticated user interactions, preventing unauthorized access or use of the camera. The system may also include additional authentication steps or gestures to further secure device operations. The overall approach integrates biometric authentication with device hardware control to improve security and user convenience.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention.
November 29, 2018
April 14, 2020
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